All of Skyrim is in your grasp. Countless caves, and tombs waiting for your exploration, if only you have the courage to step forth onto unknown grounds. Any adventurer, whether they be mage, thief, or warrior, has the chance to be great.

Whiterun Hold is the central hold on Skyrim. It is named for the major city of the hold, Whiterun. The landscape is mostly boreal plains, with vast, sparse tundra and flowing rivers, but its most striking landmark is the Throat of the World, the highest peak in Tamriel.

The Reach is one of the nine Holds of Skyrim. The capital city of the hold is Markarth. The Reach covers much of the western border of Skyrim, with High Rock and Hammerfell to the west. Surrounding holds include Whiterun to the east, Haafingar past the mountains to the north and Falkreath to the south-east.

Haafingar, the ancient name given to the city of Solitude, is one of the Holds of Skyrim. It is located on a peninsula on the far north-west coast, and encompasses the area surrounding its capital city, Solitude. Haafingar is the smallest Hold in area. It also appears to be the most remote, being located on a peninsula on the far northwest coast.

Hjaalmarch is one of the nine Holds of Skyrim. Its capital is Morthal. The Hjaal River runs through a large portion of the Hold. Hjaalmarch is located in Skyrim's north, at the mouth of the Karth River. Morthal lies near the centre of the hold. Much of the terrain is covered by wetlands, marshes, and swamps.

The Capital City of The Pale is Dawnstar. The Pale is located in the central northern area of Skyrim and extending to the northern coast where Dawnstar is situated. Most of the region is treacherously cold, with almost the entire hold being snowy winter tundra. Only the southernmost part of the hold towards Whiterun becomes grassy plains.

Winterhold, sometimes known as "The Winterhold", is one of the nine Holds of Skyrim. It is one of the four oldest holds in Skyrim, known collectively as Old Holds. Winterhold is located on the north-east corner of Skyrim. It is a vastly cold region, most of the hold is covered in snowy tundra plains and high mountain ranges.

The hold is located along the southern border of Skyrim and shares this border with Cyrodiil and Hammerfell. Surrounding holds include The Reach on the west, Whiterun Hold on the north, and The Rift to the east. Falkreath's most prominent feature is Lake Ilinalta, which is a large freshwater lake north of Falkreath. The White River begins here and flows out of the northeast corner of the lake. Most of the hold is comprised of forests and hills with the higher alpine land along its border and near Helgen.

The Rift is located around the south-eastern corner of Skyrim and borders Morrowind and Cyrodiil. The surrounding holds are Eastmarch to the north, Whiterun to the north-west and Falkreath to the west. Much of the Rift is composed of lush, autumn-coloured paradisaical valleys and rivers, surrounded by mountains to the south, east, and northeast.

Central/south Eastmarch seems to be a volcanically active area, plains with steaming gas leaking in between cracks in the ground, colorful, mineral filled bodies of water, and geysers. The far west of the hold resembles much of the rest of central skyrim, and the north a mountainous tundra, where the hold's capital Windhelm lies. The east is composed of the Valuthi mountain range, which extends down to The Rift.